EP1889334B1 - Contact apparatus for minimizing the load of mechanically loaded smt soldered joints - Google Patents

Abstract

Contacting mechanism for SMT component mounting on circuit board connects its contacts to conductive tracks of circuit board via solder points and has contact holder (7) while contacts are arranged to coact with countercontacts.Contact mechanism contains first housing part with one or more recesses for contact holder and STP(s) for contact, catching up impact forces during impacting of contacts with respective countercontacts. Independent claims are included for SMT plug connector.

Description

The invention relates to a contact device for SMT assembly on a printed circuit board, wherein the contact device for electrically conductive connection of at least one contact of the contact device is provided with at least one conductor of the circuit board via at least one solder joint, wherein the contact device comprises a contact holder for receiving the contact, and wherein the contact of the contact device is provided for connection to at least one electrical mating contact.

The invention further relates to an SMT plug connection with at least one such contact device.

Such a contact device for SMT solder joints ("Surface Mounting Technology") is used in the production technology for printed circuit boards. SMT assemblies, also called PCBs, require a high degree of standardization that enables high-quality manufacturing and assembly techniques. Any simplification, such as the reduction of the individual parts of the printed circuit boards is of great advantage. SMT has become increasingly prevalent in the past against "trough hole technology" (THT) due to its ease of manufacture, although the strength of the SMT solder joint is a factor of 5 to 10 lower than that of a THT solder joint. For this, SMT dispenses with holes in the board and saves at least one operation and cumbersome soldering. A major disadvantage of the SMT is that it is usually not suitable for certain components, such as connectors or heavy components, where a high mechanical stress on the solder joints occurs. For this reason, it is still often used today for heavy components and connectors still on the proven, labor-consuming THT. Nevertheless it is possible with certain problematic assemblies bypass the THT. For example, SMT connectors, which are intended to make electrical contact of mating contacts (contacts outside the circuit board) with circuit traces of the circuit board, require auxiliary structures to ensure a stable anchoring on the circuit board. If such an auxiliary construction does not exist, the SMT plug connections usually do not provide the necessary stability in order to absorb the mechanical load or the power flow can not be diverted to more stable components. To address this problem, can serve as auxiliary constructions peg-like devices, which are aligned vertically to the circuit board and used to position the connector, at the same time to collect the mechanical loads parallel to the circuit board. Therefore, a plug connection is usually usually designed so that the movement of the plug-in process is performed parallel to the circuit board, thus relieving the SMT solder joints.

Out EP 0874421A1 is a plug is known, which is mechanically and electrically connected via SMT solder joints with a circuit board in one operation. To protect the SMT solder joints pins are provided on the plug, which are sunk in the circuit board and serve as mechanical protection. The insertion movement is parallel to the PCB and perpendicular to the pins - similar to the previous section.

Out US 2003/0224653 A1 For example, an electrical connector is known which has an insulating housing and is installable on a printed circuit board. This has a number of terminals which are contactable with conductor tracks of the circuit board.

The invention has for its object to provide a contact device of the type mentioned on SMT basis, which is also inexpensive to produce and easy to assemble.

This object is achieved in a contact device of the type mentioned according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the housing part has at least one elongated recess for receiving the aufzusetzenden on the circuit board contact holder.

The object is further achieved by an SMT plug-in device with the features specified in claim 19.

The mechanical relief of the SMT solder joints is accomplished by a contact device, which causes a power flow redirection. A power flow, which arises, for example, by the insertion forces when contacting the contacts with the electrical mating contacts is diverted by means of at least one stop on the first housing part. The first housing part thus absorbs damaging mechanical stresses and can transfer these to other housing parts, and / or to the entire housing. The power flow is mainly due to the contacts, which are fixed in a contact holder by clamping. In this case, the contact holder is the mechanical link between the contacts and the first housing part. The fact that the contact in the contact holder and the contact holder is in turn locked in the housing part, the power flow from contact via the contact holder on the first housing part or from the contact directly on the first housing part are passed. In both cases, the power flow is kept away from the circuit board and the SMT solder joint, as a potential transmitter of the power flow, relieved.

The mode of operation of the SMT connector is based on such a contact device, wherein the first housing part of the contact device is designed such that it forms a tailor-made plug-in device for a mating plug device, which is provided for contacting the contacts with the electrical mating contacts.

In an advantageous embodiment of the contact device, at least one stop for the contact is formed, which is provided for the interception of tensile and / or compressive forces is that interact with the electrical contact. This avoids that external forces load the SMT solder joints.

It is possible to carry out the contact device as a module, since the contact device can be connected via the first housing part with further housing parts and thus enables a universal use.

In an advantageous embodiment of the contact device, the first housing part is designed such that it forms a precisely fitting plug-in device for a mating plug device, which is provided for contacting the contacts with the electrical mating contacts. As a result, a use of the contact device, for example, as a connector counterpart possible and make the contact easily and quickly, or to interrupt.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the first housing part has a cover plate with at least one elongate recess, with which the sockets of the contact holder can be guided and allow easy threading into the fixing region. This saves effort and time in mechanical or manual assembly.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the first housing part on side plates with at least one recess, whereby at least the guide webs of the contact holder can be guided. These recesses are used both for easy threading of the contact holder in the housing part and simultaneously performs in combination with the spacer webs on the underside of the cover plate to a more stable fixation of the contact holder in the vertical direction, perpendicular to the circuit board.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the side plates have recesses formed as a stop in a threading area and as a groove in a fixing area are. This combination allows a threading of the sockets of the contact holder in the elongated recesses of the cover plate before the contact holder is completely fixed in the fixing. It is another device to simplify the threading process.

In a further advantageous embodiment, finger protection elements are integrally formed on the upper side of the cover plate in the fixing region of the first housing part. These finger protection elements prevent unwanted contact by the user when removing or connecting the electrical mating contact. They also prevent unwanted contact with other metallic parts, which could cause a short circuit, or contact with other objects or materials that could permanently contaminate the contact. Optionally, it is possible to provide the finger protection elements as tailor-made plug-in device forming elements.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one fixing device for detecting the contact holder is provided in the fixing area in order to determine the contact holder in the horizontal direction to the circuit board.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact is divided into different segments with different functions. The contact has a small protruding tip, which is provided as a contact foot for soldering to the circuit board. Furthermore, the contact includes a contact body for connection to the electrical mating contact, which is formed flat and large area. The contact body and the contact foot are optionally connected to an elastic, conductive connecting piece, which can absorb mechanical stress.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact for direct insertion and for easy fixation by clamping in the contact holder is provided.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact holder on its underside on the contact holder molded guide elements for accurately fitting placement of the contact holder in guide holes, which are provided in the circuit board according to the arrangement of the guide elements. This should facilitate the positioning of the contact device on the circuit board. Optionally, it is possible to perform the guide elements as press-fit pins.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact holder on the upper side at least one socket for the contact body, which are used for guiding purposes during threading.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the contact holder has at least one recess on the underside, which is provided for receiving the contact foot of the contact in the contact holder. He is lying contact holder flat on the circuit board.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a one-piece device has the functional means of the contact holder and the first housing part, whereby the number of components of the contact device is reduced and / or the assembly process is simplified.

In a further advantageous embodiment of an SMT connector, the SMT connector has an at least one electrical mating contact existing connector part for contacting with the contact of the contact device, whereby a straightforward, fast and / or secure contact via the plug principle is made possible.

FIG 1

einen Kontakthalter einer Kontaktvorrichtung mit Kontakten in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

FIG 2

den Kontakthalter aus Figur 1 in einer weiteren perspektivischen Ansicht,

FIG 3

eine Kontaktvorrichtung mit erstem Gehäuseteil und Leiterplatte in Explosionsdarstellung,

FIG 4

eine auf einer Leiterplatte angeordnete Kontaktvor- richtung beim Einfädeln in das erste Gehäuseteil,

FIG 5

eine auf einer Leiterplatte angeordnete Kontaktvor- richtung bei der Fixierung im ersten Gehäuseteil,

FIG 6

eine auf einer Leiterplatte angeordnete Kontaktvor- richtung im fixierten Zustand im ersten Gehäuse- teil,

FIG 7

einen Ausschnitt aus Figur 6 als vergrößerte An- sicht einer Arretiervorrichtung zur Fixierung des Kontakthalters in der Deckplatte des ersten Gehäu- seteils,

FIG 8

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer Seiten- platte des ersten Gehäuseteils zur Veranschauli- chung des Einfädelbereiches und des Fixierbereiches der Kontaktvorrichtung,

FIG 9

eine Seitenansicht des Kontaktes mit seinen Be- standteilen innerhalb der Kontaktvorrichtung und

FIG 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Kontaktvorrichtung innerhalb eines mehrteiligen Gehäuses mit vertika- lem Schnitt.

In the following the invention will be described and explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1

a contact holder of a contact device with contacts in a perspective view,

FIG. 2

the contact holder FIG. 1 in a further perspective view,

FIG. 3

a contact device with the first housing part and printed circuit board in exploded view,

FIG. 4

a contact device arranged on a printed circuit board when being threaded into the first housing part,

FIG. 5

a arranged on a printed circuit board Kontaktvor- direction during the fixation in the first housing part,

FIG. 6

a contact device arranged on a printed circuit board in the fixed state in the first housing part,

FIG. 7

a section from FIG. 6 as an enlarged view of a locking device for fixing the contact holder in the cover plate of the first housing part,

FIG. 8

2 is a partially sectioned view of a side plate of the first housing part for illustrating the threading area and the fixing area of the contact device;

FIG. 9

a side view of the contact with its components within the contact device and

FIG. 10

a perspective view of the contact device within a multi-part housing with vertical cut.

FIG. 1 shows a contact holder 7 a contact device 3 with contacts 5 in a perspective view. The contact holder 7 carries in the embodiment six contacts 5, wherein only parts of the contact 5, namely a contact foot 25 and a contact body 26 in the FIG. 1 can be seen. The fixation of the contacts 5 is carried out by clamping in sockets 14 of the contact holder 7. Six recesses 30 on the long front side of the contact holder 7, along the lined-up contacts 5 are provided for the contact feet 25. With the help of these recesses 30, it is possible to set the contact device 3 even with pinched contacts 5 flat on the circuit board 4. In addition, the contact device 3 carries on the contact holder 7 and on both short side surfaces in each case a guide web 17. The guide webs 17 ensure easy threading of the contact holder 7 in a first housing part 8. The threading with three Einfädelungsschritten in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 shown. FIG. 2 shows the contact holder 7 FIG. 1 in a further perspective view, which allows the circuit board 4 facing underside of the contact holder 7 to see. In addition to the recesses 30 for the contact feet 25 and the molded guide elements 28 can be seen, the number and shape can be adjusted as needed.

FIG. 3 shows the contact device 3 with the first housing part 8 and the circuit board 4 in an exploded view. Below is the circuit board 4 with guide holes 29, about the adapted contact device 3, consisting of the contact holder 7 with the contacts 5 and the device part 8. The contact device 3 is provided for the direct assembly of the circuit board 4 by SMT technology and can directly on positioned the circuit board 4, or the contact feet 25 are soldered. In addition to the soldering of the contact feet 25 and the molded guide elements 28 of the contact device 3 are inserted into the designated guide holes 29 of the circuit board 4. The guide elements 28 may optionally be designed as press-fit pins, wherein also a different number of guide elements 28th or the guide holes 29 is conceivable. The first device part 8 is intended to guide the contact device 3 together with the printed circuit board 4 in the elongate recesses 9. The first housing part 8 is intended to protect the contact device 3 and / or to allow the connection to other housing parts 11, 12 and / or to form a plug connection for the contacts 5.

FIG. 4 shows a arranged on a printed circuit board 4 contact device 3 when threading in the first housing part 8. This figure is in connection with FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 to see because these three figures show an image sequence of the threading of the patch on the printed circuit board 4 contact holder 7 in the first housing part 8. Each figure illustrates one of the three steps that are necessary to fix the contact device 3 together with the circuit board 4 in the first housing part 8. In the first step, the contact device 3 is pushed together with the circuit board 4 under such a cover plate 13 of the first housing part 8 that a threading of the sockets 14 in the elongated recesses 9 of the first housing part 8 is possible.

FIG. 5 shows a arranged on a circuit board 4 contact device 3 in the fixation in the first housing part 8. In this second step, the sockets 14 are inserted into the elongated recesses 9, the circuit board 4 and the cover plate 13 are parallel to each other.

FIG. 6 shows a arranged on a printed circuit board 4 contact device 3 in the first housing part 8 in a fixed state. In this third step, the transition of the contact holder 7 placed on the printed circuit board 4 from the threading region 18 into the fixing region 20 takes place. For this purpose, a horizontal movement is carried out so that contact bodies 26 of the contacts 5 are placed under the finger protection elements 22. After the execution of the third step, the patch on the printed circuit board 4 contact holder 7 is fixed in the housing part 8. The threading process is complete.

FIG. 7 shows a section FIG. 6 as an enlarged view of a locking device for fixing the contact holder in the cover plate of the first housing part. Here it is again shown in detail how the contact body 26 is placed under the finger protection element 22. In addition, it can be seen that the contact device 3 is locked to the socket 14 by means of the fixing device 23. The locking works on the spring principle and comes into effect when the socket 14 is pushed by the threading 18 in the fixing area 20. By the fixing device 23, a return of the patch on the printed circuit board 4 contact holder 7 is prevented in the Einfädelbereich 18. Furthermore, a possible movement is excluded vertical to the cover plate 13 because of the finger protection elements 22 and the guide webs 17. The contact device 3 is thus completely fixed and requires for contacting the contact 5 with an electrical mating contact a specially provided plug-in device part, since the contact body 26 bordered from three sides, or is protected.

FIG. 8 shows a partially sectioned view of a side plate 16 of the first housing part 8 illustrating the Einfädelbereiches 18 and the fixing portion 20 of the contact device 3. The guide stopper 19 allows in Einfädelbereich 18 simultaneously bringing and one-sided guiding the mounted on the circuit board 4 contact holder 7. The groove 21 in the fixing region 20 allows the fixation of the contact holder 7 in the vertical direction to the circuit board 4 in combination with the guide web 17, which is guided in the groove 21 like a rail.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the contact 5 with its components, namely the contact foot 25, a resilient connector 27 and the contact body 26. The contact 5 is shown on the circuit board 4, wherein the contact foot 25 is soldered to the circuit board 4. The contact holder 8 is here for reasons of stability flat on the circuit board 4. The elastic connector 27 is provided for intercepting possible mechanical loads of the contact 5.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the contact device 3 within a multi-part housing with a vertical section. In this figure, the contact device 3 is integrated via the first housing part 8 into a housing with further housing parts 11, 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the second housing part 11 is connected to the housing part 8 by two screws. The housing part 12 is attached to the device part 8 by means of latching fixing devices 23. The vertical section makes it possible to detect the positions of the printed circuit board 4 and the contact holder 7 with pinched contact 5.

Claims (20)

1. Contact apparatus (3) for SMT component application on a printed circuit board (4), wherein

   • the contact apparatus (3) is provided for electrically conductive connection of at least one contact (5) of the contact apparatus (3) to at least one conductor track (6) of the printed circuit board (4) via at least one solder point,

   • the contact apparatus (3) comprises a contact holder (7) for receiving the contact (5),

   • the contact (5) of the contact apparatus (3) is provided for connection to at least one electrical mating contact,

   • the contact apparatus (3) comprises a first housing part (8),

   • at least one stop (10) for the contact (5) is formed integrally on the first housing part (8) and is provided for absorbing insertion forces when contacting the contact (5) with an electrical mating contact,
   characterized in that

   • the first housing part (8) comprises at least one elongate recess (9) for receiving the contact holder (7) to be placed on the printed circuit board (4).
2. Contact apparatus (3) according to Claim 1, wherein the stop (10) is provided for absorbing tensile and/or compressive forces which are exerted on the electrical mating contact.
3. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the first housing part (8) is connectable to further housing parts (11, 12).
4. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing part (8) is designed so that it forms an accurately fitting insertion apparatus for a mating insertion apparatus, which is provided for contacting the contact (5) with the electrical mating contact.
5. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing part (8) comprises a cover plate (13), in which the recess is situated, by which frames (14) of the contact holder (7) are guidable.
6. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a guide bar (17) of the contact holder (3) is guidable in a recess (15) of a side plate (16) of the first housing part (8) .
7. Contact apparatus (3) according to Claim 6, wherein the recess (15) is designed as a guide stop (19) in an introduction region (18) and as a groove (21) in a fixing region (20).
8. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing part (8) is provided for covering and protecting the contact (5).
9. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of Claims 5-8, wherein at least one finger protection element (22) is formed integrally on the upper side of the cover plate (13) in the fixing region (20) of the first housing part (8).
10. Contact apparatus (3) according to Claim 9, wherein the finger protection element (22) is provided for forming the accurately fitting insertion apparatus.
11. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fixing apparatus (23) is provided for fastening the contact holder (7) in the fixing region (20).
12. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one spacer bar (24) is formed integrally on the lower side of the cover plate (13).
13. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (5) comprises a contact foot (25) for soldering to the printed circuit board (4) and a contact body (26) for connection to the electrical mating contact.
14. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (5) comprises a resilient connection piece (26) for connecting the contact foot (25) to the contact body (26).
15. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact (5) is provided for insertion and fixing by clamping in the contact holder (7).
16. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact holder (7) comprises guide elements (28) formed integrally on the contact holder (7) on its lower side for accurately fitting placement of the contact holder (7) in guide holes (29), which are provided in the printed circuit board (4) according to the arrangement of the guide elements (28).
17. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact holder (7) comprises at least one frame (14) for the contact body (26) on the upper side.
18. Contact apparatus (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact holder (7) comprises at least one recess (30) on the lower side, which is provided for receiving the contact foot (25) of the contact (5) in the contact holder (7).
19. SMT insertion connection having at least one contact apparatus (3) according to one of Claims 1 to 18.
20. SMT insertion connection according to Claim 19, wherein the SMT insertion connection comprises an insertion connection part, consisting of at least one electrical mating contact, for contacting with the contact (5) of the contact apparatus (3).

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